Mikel Merino explains what Arsenal squad are doing to support Viktor Gyokeres

Mikel Merino insists the Arsenal squad are trying to support Viktor Gyokeres as much as possible as the striker's goalscoring drought continues. The Swede has found the back of the net just three times for Arsenalso far and is on a nine-game streak for both club and country without a goal.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Gunnersfrom Sporting CP in the summer in a deal wroth £64million, last scored in Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on September 13. But speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, Merino said: “Viktor has the quality, for sure.

“He has the tools, the physicality, he has the players around him to feed him those goals and it is a matter of time that he is going to score. The work rate he puts in during every single game, you have to see the data, it is unbelievable how much he helps the team on and off the ball.

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“Sometimes it is unfair for the strikers, because if you don’t score it seems like you are not doing anything. But he is providing a lot for us. I am sure that he wants to score as much as everyone else, but the main thing is to help the team win.”

Gyokeres scored 97 times in 102 appearances for Sporting prior to his summer switch to Arsenal. Asked if his team-mate’s confidence might have taken a hit following his underwhelming scoring return in north London, Merino continued: “With Viktor, we try to show him love and try to support him – but that is just the main mentality that we have as a team.

“Everyone needs that love, everyone needs to feel comfortable, to feel surrounded by nice people and a team that they can count on. So, Viktor is just an example (of that), but I think everyone is wishing him to keep doing what he is doing.

“He is a really confident guy. You can see every day in training that he does the right things. As long as he keeps working, keeps providing us with the best performances, I feel that he knows what he is capable of.

“He has scored, I don’t know how many goals last season, and it is not something that you forget from one day to another. He is going to be there, he is a top-class player, and we all trust him.”